Page 48 of The Highlander's Twisted Deal
And, of course, there was a lock.
The padlock was ridiculously huge for a box of that size, as large as her palm, and worked from chunky iron. She gave it an experimental tug, but it barely shifted. The box was well-locked, and it was not going to be opened anytime soon.
Interesting.
Ava hesitantly gripped the box, picking it up to gauge its weight.
Now,thiswas surprising. The box was heavy, as a proper wood-and-iron box would be, but no weight seemed to be added by its contents. So, either the box was empty, or it was full of something that weighed almost nothing, like spun wool or paper.
Unfortunately, she wasn’t going to get the box open any time soon. Ava scrabbled in the hole for a few minutes, hoping that a key had been thrown in after the box, but, of course, there was nothing. Of course, there were more ways than one to open a lock, so Ava picked up a rock and hesitantly took aim.
“What are ye doing out here, lass?”
She flinched so hard that the rock slipped from her grip and went skittering across the ground.
“Moira,” she gasped, stumbling to her feet. “Ye scared me.”
Moira was standing about ten feet behind her, obviously following the same narrow rabbit track which had brought Ava here. She was dressed for walking, wearing a heavy, gray woolen cloak to keep out the chill. Behind her, Marcus was picking his way along the narrow path, not seeming to have noticed what was going on.
“Well, we saw ye leaving earlier,” Moira explained. “I didnae mean to follow ye, but I was afraid ye would get lost. I ken ye are a healer and used to wandering in forests, but the woods in these parts are thick and worrisome. I’m sorry, lassie, I never meant to interrupt.” She glanced down at the hole in the ground, and the muddy box beside it, and frowned. “What’s this?”
“Buried treasure, I’d reckon,” Marcus replied, stepping beside his wife. He gave a huff of laughter, his eyes fixed on the box. “I had no idea ye were a wee pirate, lassie. This isnae yer box, is it?”
Ava flushed. “The forest belongs to everyone, does it nae? I was digging for mushrooms, actually. But the box is locked. I was going to use a rock to break it.”
“Why?”
The question came from Marcus, simple and accusing at the same time. When she glanced at him, he didn’t look disapproving or angry, only curious.
She sighed, dropping her gaze. “To see what’s inside, of course.”
Moira and Marcus exchanged glances, and Moira took a step closer, laying one cool hand on Ava’s shoulder.
“It’s natural to be curious about things,” she said quietly. “Especially at yer age. But when ye get a wee bit older—like Marcus and I—ye start to learn that things are often buried for a reason. Secrets are nasty things, and ye are better off not kenning.”
Suddenly, the air in the clearing became thick and tense, like soup.
Ava felt uncomfortable, shifting until Moira’s hand slipped from her shoulder. “Ye are right,” she said, at last, her shoulders sagging and some of the tension drained from the air. “It is a wee bit nosy.”
Moira smiled wryly. “I ken how ye feel, wanting tokenthings. Remember, there are hundreds of folks living in the Keep, and each one has something they want to hide. I daresay there are dozens among them who could have put something in a box and buried it. Best not to think of it. Or perhaps somebody wanted to keep some valuables safe.”
Ava shook her head. “Nay, it would be heavier if there were jewels or gold in there. It’s light as though it’s full of paper.”
“I’ll walk ye back to the Keep,” Moira offered.
“Nay need, I dinnae want to disturb yer walk with Marcus.”
Moira smiled tightly. “It’s nay trouble.”
The older woman looped her arm through Ava’s, pulling her close.
“I’ll stay and bury it again,” Marcus added. “It feels like the best thing to do, aye?”
“Aye,” Ava responded.
She felt humiliated, digging up something that didn’t belong to her. She’d been caught by her betrothed’s adoptive parents with a rock in her hand, ready to smash the lock off the chest.
“Wait,” Marcus cut in, his voice sharp, making Ava flinch and glance guiltily over her shoulder.
